Steelers haven't been dreamin' of California

Thursday

PITTSBURGH – Since being named coach of the Steelers in January 2007, Mike Tomlin has reached the heights of his profession. Well, almost.

Two trips to the Super Bowl, one championship, the fourth-fastest coach to reach 60 wins ... and yet there is one glaring hole in Tomlin’s resume: He’s yet to win a game in the Pacific Time Zone.

Not that two games is a large sample size, nor does it weigh heavily on Tomlin’s mind.

“I haven’t thought about it, to be honest with you,” Tomlin said.

This might be a good week to start.

A statistical anomaly, perhaps, but it’s worth bearing out: The Steelers haven’t fared well – by any measure -- under Tomlin anywhere outside the Eastern Time Zone. They are a woeful 5-18.

Despite the five-hour flight to Oakland this week, the Steelers will -- as they do for any Sunday road game --- charter out of Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon the day before the game.

Earlier this season, in a loss to Minnesota at London in Week 4, several Vikings claimed the Steelers complained of arriving Friday after an eight-hour flight. The Vikings arrived in England on Monday to adapt to the time difference.

Ben Roethlisberger believes travel will have no bearing on the outcome of this or any game on the schedule. He prefers leaving the day before.

“I wouldn’t want to go any earlier,” said the Steelers quarterback. “Some things get changed on the schedule, but you can’t look at it as an excuse because it is so much the same as what it is out here.”

Rookie linebacker Jarvis Jones, who had said it took him a few series to get his legs under him in London, said that won’t be a problem this week.

“I’m sure we’ll be ready,” said Jones, who added that rest and good nutrition were the keys to countering jetlag. “We understand the situation we’re getting into and the time change.”

Backup QB Bruce Gradkowski, who played two seasons in Oakland in 2009-10, knows the Steelers will be at a disadvantage, but overcoming the Raiders will be more difficult than anything the long travel presents.

“It’s a business trip,” he said. “You’re going to travel, stay in a hotel, but it’ll be just like we’re playing a 4 o’clock game, and we’ll be ready to roll.

“No excuses. It’s what happens between the lines and that’s where you need to get it done.”

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